Demonetisation: Bank deposits exceed withdrawals nearly five times over

Deposits were nearly five times as large as withdrawals over 10 days to 18 November, 2016, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on 8 November, 2016.

Exchange/deposits of invalid notes — Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 — amounted to Rs 5,44,571 crore ($80 billion) between 10 and 18 November, according to data released by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday.

The government said the move would flush out black – or unaccounted – money from the system, stop terrorism funding and counterfeit currency. But the move also affected millions of Indians who may not have black money but transact in cash. Long lines continue at automated teller machines (ATMs) and banks, particularly in rural areas, to exchange old notes and withdraw money.

Currency in denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 increased 50 percent over three years (from Rs 9.6 lakh crore in 2012-13 to Rs 14.1 lakh crore in 2015-16), according to RBI data, IndiaSpendreported on 12 November, 2016.

The currency with people rose during the last three years – 2013 to 2016 – against deposits kept by people in banks, RBI data show. From being almost equal in 2007, currency with Indians was 50 percent more than bank deposits in these three years, IndiaSpendreported on 12 November, 2016.

You can also watch videos here:

1) How does demonetisation affect the Indian economy?

Will the move lead to a reduction of black money? Which businesses will be affected most? We spoke to Govind Ethiraj, founder of IndiaSpend, journalist, and founder-editor of Bloomberg TV India, about the implications of the move for the Indian economy.

2) Demonetisation: Prospects and Perils

How quickly can the RBI print currency? Is this exercise actually ‘demonetisation’? How accessible is a bank to the average Indian? IndiaSpend spoke to Praveen Chakravarty, senior visiting fellow at IDFC Institute.